Modernist Housing Estates in Berlin part 2 - Gartenstadt Falkenberg

Wandering around the Gartenstadt Falkenberg it is clearly evident why its nickname is Tuschkastensiedlung (paintbox estate). The colour of the façades are complimented by the use of contrasting colours of windows, shutters, patios and wooden balconies, all on the summer day of my visit complimented by the beautifully laid out and colourful gardens.

Falkenberg is the oldest of the six Gardenstadt (garden city settlements, modelled on the English garden cities), designed by Bruno Taut and constructed between 1913 - 1916. The first construction phase was the cul-de-sac Akazienhof. Below one of the blocks on this street.

The second phase was the street Gartenstadtweg, which includes 12 groups of houses, each with individual colour schemes. The sloping street is well landscaped, with terraces and well laid out gardens. The apartment blocks all have gardens, originally intended for the occupants to grow their own produce. Below are two of the rows of terraced houses on the street.

Colourful entranceway to one of the blocks on Gartenstadtweg.

More images of Berlins Modernist Housing Estates can be viewed here Berlin Modernist Housing Estates

Photo Gartenstadt Falkenberg, Berlin, Germany

Modernist Housing Estates in Berlin - Großsiedlung

Berlin has six modernist housing estates that were listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2008. The estates were built between 1913 and 1934 and are representative of the progressive attitude towards social housing in Berlin during those years, which aimed to provide a green and healthier living space for people on low incomes.

The estate at Großsiedlung Siemensstadt was built between 1929 and 1934 to provide homes for the workers at the nearby Siemens electrical factory. The architects were Hans Scharoun, Walter Gropius, Hugo Haring, Otto Bartning, Fred Forbat and Paul Rudolf Henning – part of a group called Der Ring, which later evolved into Bauhaus. The architects were each allocated a different area of the estate to design, which resulted in the varied appearence of the buildings.

After 1919, according to the Weimar constitution, all new apartments built in Berlin had to include a separate bathroom and kitchen, as well as a balcony. The Großsiedlung Siemensstadt estate features particularly attractive circular balconies, this block designed by Häring.

The block designed by Scharoun, with its south facing circular balconies.

Green spaces were provided between buildings and original trees were conserved to provide a pleasant living environment - compare to the overcrowded tenement blocks common at the time. This is the block called Langer Jammer designed by Otto Bartning.

Volkspark Jungfernheide to the north of the estate provided an extension to the green spaces. Still a pleasent and popular area, it has a wildlife enclosure, play areas and an open air swimming pool.

 

for photographs see also:
Grosssiedlung Siemensstadt, Berlin, Germany I
Grosssiedlung Siemensstadt, Berlin, Germany II